Identifying the Effective Factors in Developing the Interdepartmental Relations of Hospital Managers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background: Managers have a main role in the leadership and supervision of clinical and administrative human resource to improve efficiency and effectiveness in different departments of hospitals. Thus, managers are required to communicate effectively. The current study aimed to identify the main factors affecting the development of interdepartmental relations of the managers of medical centers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). Methods: This is a qualitative study conducted through content analysis in 2018. Eight managers with at least 5 years’ experience of management at SUMS were selected through purposive sampling to participate in the study. Data were collected by a semi-structured questionnaire. Finally, eight deep and semi-structured interviews were conducted, findings were saturated, and themes were extracted. Results:The findings showed that the main factors affecting the development of interdepartmental relations are categorized in three themes: individual factors including leadership, moral features, personality features, communication skills; technical factors including modern technology; and organizational and structural factors including organizational culture. Discussion and Conclusion: Establishing effective communication between different departments of hospitals are among managers’ duties. According to the study findings, it is important to consider individual characteristics of managers as well as technical and organizational factors as important elements affecting interdepartmental relations to achieve organizational goals.

Keywords

• communication
• communications skills
• organizational communications
• qualitative study